The Journey of a Running Green Girl

The Green Girl's Ragnar Trail Michigan Packing List

2021-06-02T09:09:00.012-07:00

The Green Girl is looking forward to her first post-Covid race at the end of the month.

Ragnar Trail Michigan is going to be my first trail Ragnar event. Whee!

The Green Girl's Ragnar Trail Michigan Packing List

Clothing

Sea to Summit 13L Ultra-Sil Dry Sack
Long-sleeved base layer shirt
Leggings
Running shirts
Running shorts
Underwear
Sports bras
Zensah Compression Calf Sleeves
Dirty Girl Gaiters
Neck gaiters
Zensah masks
Drymax Mini Crew Running Socks
Marmot Calen Jacket
North Face Venture Raincoat
Running hat
Flip-flops
Spare running shoes

Gear

REI Venus 70 Pack
REI Quarter Dome 3 Tent
Therm-A-Rest Women's Trail Lite self-inflating sleeping pad
Marmot Angel Fire sleeping bag in Sea to Summit compression sack
TREKOLOGY Ultralight Inflating Travel Pillow
Orange Mud Transition & Seat Wrap
Hydration pack
Yoga mat
Ewedoos Yoga Towel w/Anchor Corners
Brazyn Collapsible foam roller

Personal Items/Toiletries

BugBand mosquito repellent bracelets
Dickinson's Witch Hazel Daily Facial Towelettes
Giovanni Peppermint Surge Sanitizing Towelettes
Toothbrush/toothpaste
Plackers Dental Flossers
Shampoo/Conditioner
Body wash
Antiperspirant/Deodorant
Feminine products
Travel comb/brush
Spare hair elastics
Spare Bondi Bands
Nail clipper
Q-tips Cotton Swabs Pack
Lip balm
Allergy medicine
Epi Pen
Inhaler
Daily vitamins in individual zip bags
Ibuprofen
Travel toilet paper roll
Eagle Creek Exhale Inflatable Neck Pillow
BodyGlide
Sunscreen
Sports tape
Target up & up Sensitive Skin Baby Wipes

Electronics

Garmin 605
Wahoo TICKR X Heart Rate Monitor
Spare CR 2032 batteries for HRM
Bluetooth headphones
Mobile phone
Mobile phone charger
AT&T Aircard
Tour DaVita lantern
PETZL ACTIK® CORE headlamp
PETZL NOTILIGHT headlamp lantern
Spare AAA batteries for headlamp
Anker Battery pack
Waterproof electronic bags

Nutrition

SUCCEED! S! Caps electrolyte tablets
Skratch Matcha Green Tea & Lemon drink mixes
Lara Bars
HydraPak SpeedCup
HydraPak Stow Collapsible Bottle
Hydro Flask Travel Coffee Mug

Travel Outfit

Leggings
Long-sleeved base layer shirt
Athleta Downalicious Black
New Balance 990v3

The Green Girl's Ragnar Napa Packing List

2019-10-23T11:26:00.000-07:00

The Green Girl is preparing for her first Ragnar Napa relay with her team 'The Wine-ing Dervishes'.

I recommend packing the majority of your stuff in a backpack or duffel bag that can be stored in the trunk of the van but also bringing a smaller bag that you can have with you in the van for ready access to essentials. I'm taking an REI duffel bag and an Osprey TALON 22 backpack.

I suggest wearing your your initial running outfit and then pack 3 complete changes of outfit (2 additional running outfits + 1 post-run outfit) in individual gallon zip bags so dirty clothing can be sealed in the bags. Also store all your safety items (see 'Safety' list below) in a single zip bag so you can easily grab it for the Safety Briefing inspection.

A towel is indispensable - you can roll it up as a pillow, you can use it as a blanket if you get cold, you can sit on it when you are sweaty, you can use it as a barrier when you're changing - and the list goes on. I swear by the Orange Mud Transition & Seat Wrap Towel.

The Green Girl's Ragnar Napa Packing List

REI Duffel Bag
3 outfit changes [stored in individual gallon zip bags in which the dirty clothing can be sealed]

Safety [stored in a single gallon zip bag]

Road ID Ankle ID
Black Diamond Spot Headlamp in Revolution Green
Spare AAA batteries for headlamp
Green Nathan StrobeLight
Nathan Zephyr Fire 300 handheld flashlight
Reflective vest

Other items

Spare running shoes
Flip flops
Headsweats Green Trucker
North Face Venture Rain Jacket
Orange Mud Transition & Seat Wrap Towel
Toothbrush/toothpaste
Antiperspirant/Deodorant
Travel toilet paper roll
Feminine products
Travel brush
Spare hair elastics
Sunscreen
Sports tape
BodyGlide
Garbage bags
Zip bags for rain protection
TriggerPoint GRID Foam Roller
+addaday Type C roller

Osprey TALON 22 Backpack

Glasses
Sunglasses
Anker 26800mAh battery pack
AT&T AirCard
Baby Wipes
Dickinson's Witch Hazel Daily Facial Towelettes
Giovanni Peppermint Surge Sanitizing Towelettes
Eagle Creek Inflatable Neck Pillow
Black moisture-wicking hoodie
Vitamins
Rescue inhaler
EpiPen

Osprey Packs Rev 1.5 Hydration Pack

Headphones
Driver's License
Credit Card
Cash
Mobile phone
Lip balm
Small battery pack
Ibuprofen
Water

The Green Girl's Ragnar Packing List

2017-04-05T16:01:00.000-07:00

The Green Girl is preparing for her fifth Ragnar Southern California relay with her team 'The Green Team'.

I recommend packing the majority of your stuff in a backpack or duffel bag that can be stored in the trunk of the van but also bringing a smaller bag that you can have with you in the van for ready access to essentials.

I suggest wearing your your initial running outfit and then pack 3 complete changes of outfit (2 additional running outfits + 1 post-run outfit) in individual gallon zip bags so dirty clothing can be sealed in the bags. Also store all your safety items (see 'Safety' list below) in a single zip bag so you can easily grab it for the Safety Briefing inspection.

A towel is indispensable - you can roll it up as a pillow, you can use it as a blanket if you get cold, you can sit on it when you are sweaty, you can use it as a barrier when you're changing - and the list goes on. I swear by the Orange Mud Transition & Seat Wrap Towel.

I cannot say enough good things about Target up & up Sensitive Skin Wipes - trust me on this one, go pick up a pack or two.

Another tip is to stick the spare van key in a magnetic keycase to avoid accidentally locking your team out of the van.

The Green Girl's Ragnar So Cal Packing List

REI Duffel Bag
3 outfit changes [stored in individual gallon zip bags in which the dirty clothing can be sealed]

Sole Runners shirts
Running shorts
Drymax Mini Crew Running Socks
Zensah Calf Compression sleeves
Underwear
Champion Double Dry Shiny Seamless Sports Bras
Bondi Bands

Safety [stored in a single gallon zip bag]

Road ID Ankle ID
Black Diamond Spot Headlamp in Revolution Green
Spare AAA batteries for headlamp
Green Nathan StrobeLight
Reflective vest

Other items

Spare running shoes
Flip flops
Headsweats Green Trucker
North Face Venture Rain Jacket
Orange Mud Transition & Seat Wrap Towel
Toothbrush/toothpaste
Antiperspirant/Deodorant
Travel toilet paper roll
Feminine products
Travel brush
Spare hair elastics
Sunscreen
Sports tape
BodyGlide
Arnica gel
Kool 'N Fit
Garbage bags
Zip bags for rain protection
First aid kit
Instant ice packs
TriggerPoint GRID Foam Roller
+addaday Type C roller
The Stretch Out Strap
Green REI Flex Lite Chair

CicLAvia Baggu Duck

Glasses
Sunglasses
Car charger
Anker 26800mAh battery pack
Kindle [for updating The Green Team's Pace Calculator]
Verizon mifi
Cowbell
Target up & up Sensitive Skin Baby Wipes
Dickinson's Witch Hazel Daily Facial Towelettes
Giovanni Peppermint Surge Sanitizing Towelettes
Eagle Creek Inflatable Neck Pillow
Black moisture-wicking hoodie
Vitamins

Osprey Packs Rev 1.5 Hydration Pack

Headphones
Driver's License
Credit Card
Cash
Mobile phone
Lip balm
Small battery pack
Succeed S! Electrolyte Caps
Ibuprofen
Water

Running on the Wall Race Bib & Medal Holder Review

2016-05-07T10:35:00.000-07:00

Running on the Wall custom race bib & medal holder in Sage

The Green Girl got a customized Race Bib and Medal Holder from Running on the Wall.

The Running on the Wall displays are handcrafted from recycled MDF wood by wife and husband runners, Melianna and Alex. They also use water-based paint and non-chemical based varnishes.

I decided to get my favorite quote on a sage display:

A journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step. Lao Tzu
The exact Chinese translation of the quote 千里之行，始于足下 is 'A journey of a thousand li starts beneath one’s feet'. A li is the equivalent of roughly a third of a mile.

Running on the Wall custom race bib & medal holder

This quote is on the Inperspire Towel I use for yoga and it's engraved on my ring from my mum.

Melianna provided outstanding customer service and was very helpful when I inquired about the specific shades of green.

My display was shipped quickly and securely (with no excess packaging) in a USPS Priority Mail box.

Running on the Wall custom race bib & medal holder

The vinyl lettering was covered with a clear varnish for protection and easy dusting.

The display arrived with the hardware - L-shaped metal hanging pegs, 4 bib extension rings, and 2 nails - in a plastic zip bag.

Assembly was straight-forward - I hand screwed the L-shaped metal hanging pegs into each of the pre-drilled holes until the flat portion was flush with the wood.

Marked holes

After all the hanging pegs were installed, I flipped the holder over and used a piece of scrap paper to jot dots down for the nail positioning.

I'm absolutely thrilled with how my customized holder turned out and it's nice to finally have a way to display race bibs.

The Green Girl's new customized Running on the Wall Race Bib & Medal Holder

Wild by Nature Book Review and Giveaway

2016-02-09T16:08:00.000-08:00

The Green Girl was thrilled to receive her first ever advance reader's edition when she was offered a copy of Sarah Marquis' Wild by Nature: From Siberia to Australia, Three Years Alone in the Wilderness on Foot.

One woman
10,000 miles on foot
6 countries
8 pairs of hiking boots
3,000 cups of tea
1,000 days and nights
Wild by Nature follows Swiss National Geographic Explorer Sarah Marquis on the trail of her 10,000 mile 'eXplorAsia' solo hike across the remote Gobi desert from Siberia to Thailand. From Thailand, she travels by boat and completes her hike in Northern Australia.

Sarah Marquis Photo Credit: alchetron.com

The author is Swiss and it's my understanding that the book was translated from French to English. I believe some of the meaning may have been lost or skewed in translation.

I also acknowledge the fact that cultural heuristics mold and influence world attitudes and views.

I found her writing incongruous, disjointed, and detached. I felt she had a lack of respect for the native inhabitants of the lands she encroached on but an intense appreciation for Mother Nature. I was often left yearning for more details. But I was still blown away by the magnitude of her solo journey.

Sarah Marquis at her camp in Australia’s Kimberley Photo Credit: Sarah Marquis

Preparing for a 3 year hike is a significant undertaking and I would have appreciated more details regarding her training and preparation. I also wish she would have provided the gear list that comprised her 75 lb backpack and 120 lb cart.

I appreciated insights like tips on how to collect water in an arid region.

Sarah Marquis arrives at her final 'Little Tree' destination Photo Credit: Sarah Marquis

I also learned a lot from how she handled herself in the difficult and potentially volatile encounters. She even resorted to sleeping in sewage pipes - sometimes alongside animal carcasses - to avoid night visits from drunk Mongolian men.

Wild by Nature goes on sale today, February 9th.

If you would like your very own copy of Wild by Nature, The Running Green Girl is pairing up with St. Martin's Press for a giveaway.

You will have two options for logging into the Rafflecopter widget:

Log in via Facebook - choose this option and a pop-up will ask for permission to access Facebook details. Rafflecopter needs to access email addresses via Facebook in order to contact winners.
Use your email - leave a name and email address. Your email address is PRIVATE and I will not share or publish it anywhere.

a Rafflecopter giveaway Giveaway ends Friday, February 19th at 12:00 midnight Pacific Time. If you encounter any issues entering this giveaway via Rafflecopter, please let me know.

The only way to survive three years of walking was to embrace the moment of now. Sarah Marquis

Happy Chinese Lunar New Year 恭喜發財

2016-02-08T18:47:00.001-08:00

The Green Girl wants to wish everyone a happy, healthy, and prosperous Chinese Lunar New Year of the Fire Monkey 猴.

According to Chinese astrology, our universe consists of five basic elements: Metal, Water, Wood, Fire, and Earth. It is said that everything in the universe, including humans, has a relationship with these five elements.

The Chinese believe every element is equally important and powerful. Metal will create Water, Water will create Wood, Wood will create Fire, Fire will create Earth, and Earth will then create Metal. Conversely, there is also a cycle of incompatibility and destruction: Metal will destroy Wood, Wood will destroy the Earth, Earth will destroy Water, Water will destroy Fire, and Fire will then destroy the Metal.

2016 is the year of the Fire Monkey so Fire is the dominant element. Fire shapes Metal and brings energy but it can also destroy metal and this may cause turbulence.

In addition to Fire, Monkey contains Metal and Water. Metal is connected to gold and Water is connected to wisdom and danger. Metal is also connected to the Wind and this means the status of events will change very quickly. Think carefully and cautiously before making financial, career, business, and personal relationship decisions.

One of the keys to success in a Monkey year is to expand your knowledge by taking classes, studying, joining professional groups/organizations, or traveling.

The Year of the Monkey is also a good time to re-think fitness programs, diet, and health plans.

Tao Te Ching verse for Monkey
Thirty spokes join together to make a wheel
but it is the center hole that makes the wagon move.
We shape clay into a vessel
but it is the emptiness inside that holds whatever we want.
We hammer wood for a house
but in the empty space is where we live.
We work with being
but non-being is what we use.

The Green Girl's 2016 Reading Challenge

2016-01-05T14:45:00.002-08:00

The Green Girl's 'Twin' Michelle, challenged her to Modern Mrs Darcy's 2016 Reading Challenge to read 12 books in 12 different categories in 12 months.

According to Anne from Modern Mrs Darcy, this challenge provides the structure you need to approach your reading list with intention in 2016.

book published this year Wild by Nature: From Siberia to Australia, three years alone in the wilderness on foot

book you can finish in a day When Breath Becomes Air

book you've been meaning to read A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety

book recommended by your local librarian or bookseller Soul, Sweat & Survival on the Pacific Crest Trail

book you should have read in school 1984

book chose by friend Fresh Off the Boat: A Memoir

book published before you were born On the Road

book banned at some point Catch-22

book you previously abandoned

book you own but have never read Eat and Run: My Unlikely Journey to Ultramarathon Greatness

book that intimidates you Dead Mountain: The Untold True Story of the Dyatlov Pass Incident

book you've already read at least once The Phoenix Project: A Novel About IT, DevOps, and Helping Your Business Win

The Green Girl's Tour DaVita Packing List

2015-08-18T12:29:00.001-07:00

The Green Girl is updating The Green Girl's Tour DaVita Packing List in preparation for Tour DaVita in North Carolina next month.

The Green Girl's Tour DaVita Packing List

Clothing

Sea to Summit 13L Ultra-Sil Dry Sack
Cycling jerseys
Pearl iZUMi Sugar Shorts
Pearl iZUMi Select Gel Gloves
Gloves (to slip over fingerless gel gloves on cold mornings)
Zensah Compression Sleeves
White long-sleeved thermal
White thermal leggings
Columbia Sweet Peak black moisture-wicking hoodie
North Face Venture Raincoat
Drymax Mini Crew Running Socks
Underwear
Champion Double Dry Shiny Seamless Sports Bras
Running shirt
Running shorts
Zensah Compression Calf Sleeves
Spenco PolySorb Total Support Sandal flip flops
Spare running shoes

Personal Items/Toiletries

BugBand mosquito repellent bracelets
Dickinson's Witch Hazel Daily Facial Towelettes
Giovanni Peppermint Surge Sanitizing Towelettes
Target up & up Sensitive Skin Baby Wipes

Huggies Natural Care Baby Wipes Clutch and Clean Carrying Case

Anti-bacterial travel towel
Toothbrush/toothpaste
Plackers Dental Flossers
Shampoo/Conditioner
Bar soap cut into individual daily use chunks
Face wash
Antiperspirant/Deodorant
Feminine products
Travel comb/brush
Spare hair elastics
Spare Bondi Bands
Nail clipper
Q-tips Cotton Swabs Pack
Lip balm
Allergy medicine
Daily vitamins in individual zip bags
Ibuprofen
Travel toilet paper roll
Chamois Butt’r Single Use Packets
Sunscreen
KT Tape
Mesh bag (for shower)

Gear/Electronics

REI Venus 70 Pack
Green Schwinn Starlet Wave Helmet
Spare Continental GatorSkin 650c x 23 tires
Spare tubes
Serfas LT-2 Medium Speed Bag
Lezyne Road Drive tire pump
Multi-tool
Patch kit
Tire levers
Mini first aid kit
CatEye HL-EL135 headlight
Cygolite HotShot 2W USB tail light
Nathan Intensity Hydration Backpack
iFitness Neoprene Double Pouch Belt
Marmot Angel Fire sleeping bag
Therm-a-Rest Compressible pillow
Dirty Girl Gaiters
Road ID Ankle ID
The Little Stick
Mini flashlight lantern
TIKKA PLUS² headlamp
Spare AAA batteries for headlamp/lantern
Mr. Green Garmin
Mr. Orange Garmin
Waterproof electronic bags

Nutrition

Skratch Labs Hydration Mix Matcha Green Tea + Lemons
Succeed S! Electrolyte Caps
FLEXR sports bottle
Spare FLEXR sports bottle liners

Travel Outfit/Carry-on

T-shirt
Jeans
Belt
Patagonia Swell Belle zip jacket
New Balance 990v3
REI Chock small messenger bag
Mobile phone
Mobile phone charger
Camera
Spare camera battery
Battery pack
Eagle Creek Inflatable Neck Pillow

Additional Notes/Tips:

I pack each day's outfit in a separate gallon zip baggie and then seal up the dirty outfit in the same baggie.

You will need some sort of bag with a handle/loop so you can hang it from a hook for carrying everything to the shower and hanging it while you shower - I'm using a mesh beach bag.

Tents will be provided.

Sleeping pads and sleeping bags will be provided so I plan on using the secondary sleeping bag as additional cushion.

I absolutely swear by the Huggies Natural Care Baby Wipes Clutch and Clean Carrying Case because I can loop it around my wrist and easily hang it in the porta-potty.

One item I omitted from my packing list which might be useful is an extension cord for charging electronics since the charging stations tend to get crowded.

For cold mornings, stash your outfit in your sleeping bag before you go to sleep so you have warm clothing to put on when you wake up.

Don't leave electronics or anything you don't want to get wet on the tent floor because condensation tends to accumulate over night.

I would recommend not taking a CO2 cartridge onto an airplane due to increased security - I used to carry them with me but I no longer do this.

The Green Girl's June 2015 #RunChatHunt

2015-06-23T13:15:00.000-07:00

The Green Girl participated in #RunChat's June 2015 #RunChatHunt on Twitter.

I spent most of the month of June in Alexandria, VA, so this #RunChatHunt challenge was a fun way for me to explore the city.

The #RunChatHunt is a virtual scavenger hunt where #RunChat provides a list of 10 items to find out on your runs. When you find an item, you snap a picture, and tweet the shot using the tag #RunChatHunt.

Each item counts as 1 entry into a drawing for #RunChatHunt prizes. A bonus entry can be earned by blogging about your experience with the #RunChatHunt tag.

Item	The Green Girl's Entry
Body of water Holmes Run Watershed
Statue 'Promenade Classique' by Anne and Patrick Poirier
Sunrise or Sunset Sunset over Washington D.C.
Something unique to your city/town Seeing the Washington D.C. skyline from the Old Town Alexandria waterfront
Race/running sticker on vehicle The Color Run sticker
American flag (or flag of your country if not in the U.S.)
Selfie with another runner SweatyBettie offered to take a virtual #selfie with me
Empty beer/soda can Floating in the Holmes Run Watershed
Garden gnome I managed to find 3
Home under construction The interesting thing about this was that the dumpster changed so I guess they were hauling it away

Reebok Spartan Race Canada Giveaway

2015-05-11T14:58:00.000-07:00

The Green Girl is happy to announce she is partnering with Reebok Spartan Race Canada to give away one race entry to a Reebok Spartan Race in Canada.

Spartan Race was voted Outside Magazine’s Best Obstacle Race.

In 2014, there were over 130 Spartan Race obstacle events in 17 countries.

Spartan Race is a global series of obstacle races at 3 distances:

Obstacle Sprint 5+ km/15+
Obstacle Super 13+ km/20+
Obstacle Beast 20+ km/ 25+.

The Spartan World Championship is the culmination of these events.

In addition to the Elite Heats, the Spartan Race Open Heats offer something for all abilities and fitness levels.

The goal of the Spartan lifestyle is to encourage people to get off their couches and help everyone lead happier, healthier, and more productive lives.

Types of Spartan Races

To enter the giveaway to win a free Spartan Race Canada race entry for any open heat (non-confirmed start time) in any 2015 Spartan Race Canada, simply log into the Rafflecopter widget below.

You will have two options for logging into the Rafflecopter widget:

Log in via Facebook - choose this option and a pop-up will ask for permission to access Facebook details. Rafflecopter needs to access email addresses via Facebook in order to contact winners.
Use your email - leave a name and email address. Your email address is PRIVATE and I will not share or publish it anywhere.

a Rafflecopter giveaway Giveaway ends Friday, May 22nd at 12:00 midnight Pacific Time. If you encounter any issues entering this giveaway via Rafflecopter, please let me know.

Good luck and thank you
for taking the time to enter this giveaway! Aroo!

The Green Girl's Ragnar Packing List

2015-03-31T22:33:00.000-07:00

The Green Girl is preparing for her third Ragnar Southern California relay with her team 'All About That Pace!'.

I recommend packing the majority of your stuff in a backpack or duffel bag that can be stored in the trunk of the van but also bringing a smaller bag that you can have with you in the van for ready access to essentials.

Pack 3 complete changes of outfit in individual gallon zip bags so dirty clothing can be sealed in the bags. Also store all your safety items (see 'Safety' list below) in a single zip bag so you can easily grab it for the Safety Briefing inspection.

A towel is indispensable - you can roll it up as a pillow, you can use it as a blanket if you get cold, you can sit on it when you are sweaty, you can use it as a barrier when you're changing - and the list goes on.

I cannot say enough good things about Target up & up Sensitive Skin Wipes - trust me on this one, go pick up a pack or two.

Another tip is to stick the spare van key in a magnetic keycase to avoid accidentally locking your team out of the van.

The Green Girl's Ragnar So Cal Packing List

North Face Recon Backpack
3 outfit changes [stored in individual gallon zip bags in which the dirty clothing can be sealed]

Sole Runners shirts
Running capris/shorts
Drymax Mini Crew Running Socks
Zensah Calf Compression sleeves
Underwear
Champion Double Dry Shiny Seamless Sports Bras

Safety [stored in a single gallon zip bag]

Road ID Ankle ID
Black Diamond Spot Headlamp in Revolution Green
Spare AAA batteries for headlamp
Green Nathan StrobeLight
Reflective vest

Other items

Spare running shoes
Mr. Green Garmin
REI Fitness Runner's Cap
White long-sleeved thermal
North Face Venture Rain Jacket
Flip flops
Sunscreen
Sports tape
BodyGlide
Dickinson's Witch Hazel Daily Facial Towelettes
Giovanni Peppermint Surge Sanitizing Towelettes
Toothbrush/toothpaste
Antiperspirant/Deodorant
Travel toilet paper roll
Feminine products
Travel brush
Spare hair elastics
Spare Bondi Band
Peaceful Mountain Muscle Ice
The Sprinter Stick
MP3 player
First aid kit
Instant ice packs
Garbage bags
Green REI Flex Lite Chair

Small Bag

Sunglasses
Cowbell
Everyone Peppermint and Citrus Hand Sanitizer Spray
Target up & up Sensitive Skin Baby Wipes
Orange Mud Transition & Seat Wrap Towel
Mobile phone charger
External battery packs
Eagle Creek Inflatable Neck Pillow
Black moisture-wicking hoodie
Vitamins

Nathan Intensity Race Vest

Driver's License
Credit Card
Cash
Camera
Mobile phone
Lip balm
Succeed S! Electrolyte Caps
Ibuprofen
Water
Tour DaVita Oregon cooling towel

The Runner's Choice Review and Giveaway

2015-03-27T20:37:00.000-07:00

The Green Girl was contacted by Trusted Health Products to review their The Runner's Choice foot recovery product.

The Runner's Choice is comprised of a proprietary blend of almond, eucalyptus, eucalytol, wintergreen, peppermint, and spearmint oils.

The Runner's Choice Oil Blend
Almond Oil is antioxidant rich, high in vitamin E, and contains many essential nutrients.
Eucalyptus has antibacterial/antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties. It also creates a cooling and refreshing effect.
Eucalytol has anti-fungal properties.
Wintergreen contains salicylic acid and methyl salicylate and therefore acts as a natural pain reliever. It also increases blood circulation.
Peppermint has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-spasmodic properties. It also provides a cooling sensation and has a calming effect on the body.
Spearmint has antiseptic, antispasmodic, restorative, and stimulant properties. It also contains vitamins, antioxidants and vital nutrients.

The Runner's Choice

The Runner's Choice comes in a 2 ounce amber glass bottle with an orifice reducer for dispensing a drop at a time.

The Runner's Choice Directions
Apply to feet immediately before and after running, jogging, or when you will be on your feet for long periods of time. Coat the bottom of your feet, between the toes and the top and 2 inches above the ankle for best results. Do not rub in (rubbing is not required for effectiveness). Wash hands after use.

The Runner's Choice has a soothing but not overpowering minty fragrance that I found refreshing.

I was initially hesitant to rub essential oils on my feet and ankles because I didn't want to end up all oily but I was pleasantly surprised to see how quickly The Runner's Choice was absorbed into my skin.

I was pleasantly surprised to see how quickly The Runner's Choice was absorbed into my skin.

I used The Runner's Choice on my sore feet post-LA Marathon and I felt like it aided my recovery. When I woke up the next morning, my feet were no longer sore and I was able to workout the day after the race. The skin on my feet has also become softer and smoother since I started using The Runner's Choice.

Trusted Health Products would like to give 3 of the The Running Green Girl's readers a chance to win their very own bottle of The Runner's Choice. To enter the giveaway, simply log into the Rafflecopter widget below. Please note this giveaway is only open to residents of the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Australia.

You will have two options for logging into the Rafflecopter widget:

Log in via Facebook - choose this option and a pop-up will ask for permission to access Facebook details. Rafflecopter needs to access email addresses via Facebook in order to contact winners.
Use your email - leave a name and email address. Your email address is PRIVATE and I will not share or publish it anywhere.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway ends Friday, April 3rd at 12:00 midnight Pacific Time. If you encounter any issues entering this giveaway via Rafflecopter, please let me know.

Good luck and thank you
for taking the time to enter this giveaway!

Happy Chinese Lunar New Year 恭喜發財

2015-02-19T14:02:00.000-08:00

The Green Girl wants to wish everyone a happy, healthy, safe, and prosperous Chinese Lunar New Year.

According to Chinese astrology, our universe consists of five basic elements: Metal, Water, Wood, Fire, and Earth. It is said that everything in the universe, including humans, has a relationship with these five elements.

The Chinese believe every element is equally important and powerful. Metal will create Water, Water will create Wood, Wood will create Fire, Fire will create Earth, and Earth will then create Metal. Conversely, there is also a cycle of incompatibility and destruction: Metal will destroy Wood, Wood will destroy the Earth, Earth will destroy Water, Water will destroy Fire, and Fire will then destroy the Metal.

2015 is the Year of the Wooden Sheep. It is also referred to as the Year of the Goat or the Year of the Ram. This is because the Chinese character 羊 (yáng) for 'horned animal' is common to these animals. 绵羊 (mián yáng) means sheep, specifically the kind that is raised for wool. 山羊 (shān yáng) means goat. 公羊 (gōng yáng) means ram.

Wood relates to trees which relate to the color green. The Year of the Wood Sheep is therefore also known as the Year of the Green Sheep.

The Year of the Green Sheep brings a slower paced, more relaxed, and introspective time. Creativity and arts flourish during Sheep years.

The Green Sheep encourages you to cultivate the things that make you feel happy and fulfilled. 2015 is an opportunity for you to nurture your inner child by exploring the world with bright-eyed wonder.

The Green Sheep has a reflective, sensitive energy that brings plenty of opportunity to tune into feelings and leverage them for our own growth and awareness. 2015 is a good year to resolve stubborn problems or break free of negative cycles.

The Green Sheep also brings a hint of nostalgia. This is a good time to research your family tree or journey to lands of ancient civilizations.

The Green Girl's LA Marathon Training Playlist ♪

2015-01-26T13:02:00.000-08:00

The Green Girl was forced to replace her SanDisk Sansa Clip+ MP3 Player when it refused to power on.

I replaced it with a SanDisk Clip Sport 8GB MP3 Player in Lime.

Getting a new MP3 player inspired me to update my running playlist.

Song	Artist
3	Britney Spears
(It Feels So Good) Your Love Keeps me Alive	Sonique
5 O'Clock	T-Pain feat. Lily Allen & Wiz Khalifa
A Single Moment Of Sincerity	Asking Alexandria
Adagio for Strings	DJ Tiësto
Airplanes	Eminem feat. Hayley Williams
All I Do Is Win	DJ Khaled feat. T-Pain, Ludacris, Snoop Dogg & Rick Ross
All The Right Moves	OneRepublic
Anaconda	Nicki Minaj
Angel on My Shoulder (EDX's Belo Horizonte At Night Edit)	Kaskade
Animals	Martin Garrix
Bangarang	Skrillex feat. Sirah
Bend Ova	Lil Jon feat. Tyga
Body Head Anthem	Roy Jones Jr feat. Mr. Magic & Choppa
Bonfire	Childish Gambino
Boom Boom Pow	The Black Eyed Peas
Break The Ice	Britney Spears
Burn	Ellie Goulding
Cafe Del Mar '98 (Original Three 'N One Mix)	Energy 52
Can I Get A…	Jay-Z feat. Amil
Castaway (Daniel Hairston Remix)	Matt Davey
Castles In The Sky	Ian Van Dahl feat. Marsha
Chandelier	Sia
Cheers (Drink To That)	Rihanna
Creep (Live)	Scala & Kolacny Brothers
Cut	Plumb
Dont Start It	Body Head Bangerz feat. Juvenile
Drop The World	Lil Wayne feat. Eminem
Drops Of Jupiter	Train
Einstein Tech N9ne	Tech N9ne
Emergency	Mavado feat. Ace Hood
Eternity	DJ Virens
Exploration Of Space (Cosmic Gate's Back 2 The Future Remix)	Cosmic Gate
Feel It (DJ Gotstyle Extended Mix)	Three 6 Mafia feat. Tiesto, Flo-Rida & Sean Kingston
Fight Music	D-12
Forever	Chris Brown
Give It To Me	Timbaland feat. Justin Timberlake
Glamorous	Fergie
Go Hard Or Go Home	Roy Jones Jr
Habits (Stay High)	Tove Lo
Halo	Beyonce
Heartbeat	Childish Gambino
Higher	Taio Cruz
Hold It Against Me	Britney Spears
Holy Grail	Jay-Z feat. Justin Timberlake
Hustlin'	Rick Ross
I Like It	Enrique Iglesias feat. Pitbull
I Love the Way You Lie	Eminem feat. Rihanna
I Made It (Feat Birdman, Lil Wayne & Jay Sean)	Kevin Rudolf
I Wanna Go	Britney Spears
In And Out Of Love	Armin van Buuren feat. Sharon den Adel
Insomnia	Benny Benassi
Intense	Armin van Buuren feat. Miri Ben-Ari
It's A Fight	Three 6 Mafia
Jar Of Hearts	Christina Perri
Kevin Gates - Luca Brasi Intro (Official Audio)	Kevin Gates
Kisses & Thugs	Super Mash Bros
Knock Out	Deyon Davis
Let It Rock	Kevin Rudolf feat. Lil Wayne
Lighters	Bad Meets Evil feat. Bruno Mars
Lights (Bassnectar Remix)	Ellie Goulding
Like A G6	Far East Movement
Lost in the Echo	Linkin Park
Love Me Like You Do	Ellie Goulding
Love The Way You Lie	Eminem feat. Rihanna
Memories	David Guetta feat. Kid Cudi
Mercy	Big Sean, 2 Chainz, Kanye West, Pusha T
Mirror	Lil Wayne feat. Bruno Mars
Mr. Brightside	The Killers
Never Cry Again (Extended Mix)	Dash Berlin
Ni**as In Paris	Kanye West feat. Jay-Z
No Air	Jordin Sparks feat. Chris Brown
No Love	Eminem feat. Lil Wayne
Not Afraid	Eminem
Numb-Encore	Ameritz
Paparazzi	Lady Gaga
Paper Planes	M.I.A.
Phonosynthesis JFK - Whiplash (Bad Habit)	DJ Irene
Piece Of Me	Britney Spears
Pour It Up RL Grime Remix	Rihanna
Radioactive	Imagine Dragons
Rave Me	Paul Van Dyk & ATB
Rehab	Rihanna
Remember The Name	Fort Minor feat. Styles of Beyond
Rendevous	Paul Van Dyk
Requiem for a Dream [Leamas Dream Mix]	Leama
Resurrection	PPK
Run This Town	Jay-Z feat. Rihanna
Sail	AWOLNATION
Say It Right	Nelly Furtado
Scream	Timbaland feat. Nicole Scherzinger
She's Like a Star	K.R. feat. Taio Cruz
Shit Hits the Fan	Obie Trice feat. Dr. Dre
Sing For The Moment	Eminem
Stop That Booty (Here We Come)	Super Mash Bros
Summer Techno 2010	DJ Tiësto
Super Bass	Nicki Minaj
Sweat	Snoop Dogg vs. David Guetta
Take Care	Drake feat. Rihanna
Taking Back My Love	Enrique Iglesias feat. Ciara
The Catalyst	Linkin Park
The City	Game feat. Kendrick Lamar
The End of the World	Skeeter Davis
The Way I Are	Timbaland feat. Keri Hilson & D.O.E)
'Till I Collapse	Eminem feat. Nate Dogg
Touch Me [Original Mix]	Croatia Squad
Tuesday	I Love Makonnen feat. Drake
Turn Down for What	DJ Snake & Lil Jon
We Found Love	Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris
What Goes Around Comes Around	Justin Timberlake
When I'm Gone	Eminem
When Love Takes Over	David Guetta feat. Kelly Rowland
When You Were Around (Ferry Corsten Fix)	Dash Berlin feat. Kate Walsh
White Walls	Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. ScHoolboy Q, Hollis
Women Lie Men Lie	Yo Gotti featuring Lil Wayne
Work B***h	Britney Spears
Wrecking Ball	Miley Cyrus
You Dont Know	50 Cent feat. Cashis & Lloyd Banks
Young Forever	Jay-Z

The Green Girl's 100 Things in 2015

2015-01-01T15:49:00.000-08:00

The Green Girl was inspired by the Day Zero Project's '101 Things in 1001 Days Challenge' to start her own challenge of attempting to complete 100 things in 2013.

I completed a disappointing 19/100 Things in 2014. This year I shifted my focus to self-improvement/development and expanding/enriching Jade's life experiences.

The Green Girl's 100 Things for 2015 - [003/100]

Update The Running Green Girl's 'About' page
Update The Running Green Girl's 'About Angelman Syndrome' page
Update The Running Green Girl's 'AAC' page
Reach 500,000 page views on this blog
Reach 1,000 Twitter followers
Do something new at the Los Angeles Angelman Syndrome Foundation National Walk
Raise at least $20,000 at the Los Angeles Angelman Syndrome Foundation National Walk
Have a New Kid on the Block retweet one of my tweets
Accrue 60 professional development units (PDUs) for my Project Management Professional (PMP) certification
Learn the fundamentals of Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) and Enterprise Server Bus (ESB)
Get a technical certification
Renew CPR/First Aid certification
Attend self defense class
Transmit via ham radio
Join the Los Angeles County Disaster Communications Service (LACDCS) team
Make a travel carry-on friendly survival kit
Perform a random act of kindness
Send a Postcrossing
Get a new camera
Buy a pair of brown work shoes
Get a non-black dress
~~Get prescription sunglasses~~ 02.19.2015
Get a hanging wall rack for my hydration packs
Get a Dremel tool
Try a new cuisine
Get a chef's knife
Get a citrus zester
Prepare 10 different crockpot dishes [05/10]

Prepare 10 different freezer meals [00/10]
Juice 10 new fruits/vegetables [00/10]
Cook dried beans
Poach an egg
Roast a whole chicken
(Successfully) prepare an artichoke
~~Revisit making steel cut oatmeal~~ 01.23.2015

First attempt - burnt oatmeal

Make homemade pasta
Make my own taco seasoning
Find a way to thinly slice onions
Go fruit picking
Go dancing
Get a facial
Spend a day at a spa
Watch a movie at a drive-in theater
Get another tattoo
Workout at 10 new places [00/10]

Complete a month long fitness challenge
Run at least 10 miles on a treadmill
Make a scrapbook
Get clothing hemmed/tailored
Salvage or repurpose an item instead of throwing it away
Support a Kickstarter project
Mark all the places I've visited in my 1000 Places To See Before You Die book
Go on a cruise
Go on a scavenger hunt
Go an on overnight ride with Lexa
Have dinner with my college roommmate
Help my friend Jurline with her abstract
Organize or digitize photographs
Document a day in the life of a Green Girl in pictures
Get a picture of with all 5 New Kids on the Block
Visit a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Drive along Historic Route 66
Visit the Skinny House
Visit The Time Travel Mart
Visit The Great Wall of Los Angeles
Visit Noah Purifoy Joshua Tree Outdoor Museum
Visit Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch
Visit the Watts Towers
Visit the Leo Carrillo State Park tide pools
Visit San Pedro's Sunken City
Visit the Venice Canal Historic District
Visit Joshua Tree
Visit the Salton Sea
Visit Salvation Mountain
Visit East Jesus
Visit the abandoned Nazi Camp
Learn all 300 ASL signs in Baby Sign and Learn app
Program TalkTablet for Jade with a core word vocabulary
Program TalkTablet categories for Jade
Teach Jade how to navigate TalkTablet
Have Jade order food on her own using her TalkTablet
Get a good family picture
Take a photo-booth picture with Jade
Take Jade to Angel Island
Take Jade to the Chabot Space & Science Center
Take Jade to Rockin' Jump
Ride BART with Jade
~~Ride the Niles Canyon Railway with Jade~~ 02.02.2015
Ride the Roaring Camp Railroad to Santa Cruz with Jade
Ride the Redwood Valley Railway with Jade
Take Jade to the Monterey Mirror Maze
Take Jade on a hike
Swim with Jade in an infinity pool
Take Jade go-karting
Have a picnic with Jade
Find a board game Jade can play with the family
Teach Jade to type her name on a keyboard
Build a sand castle with Jade
Hula dance with Jade
Dress up with Jade and go out for a fancy dinner

The Green Girl's Tour DaVita Report

2014-10-07T12:58:00.000-07:00

The Green Girl and Lexa rode 255 miles through the Willamette Valley agricultural heart of Oregon over the course of three days and completed their third Tour DaVita.

This year's tour raised over $900,000 to benefit the DaVita Village Trust organization which aspires to improve community health, wellness and vitality, including chronic kidney disease education, prevention and treatment.

DaVita Village Trust combined two kidney care non-profit organizations - Bridge of Life-DaVita Medical Missions and The Kidney TRUST - under one umbrella.

Combining these two programs has enabled the DaVita Village Trust to provide a full range of kidney care services, including international medical missions that deliver dialysis treatment to patients who would otherwise not receive care, and free, rapid screening programs to identify those in the United States and abroad who have signs of kidney impairment.

In the past 8 years, the Bridge of Life program conducted more than 46 Medical Missions in 15 countries.

With the money we raised, we were told for every mile we cycled, 33 kidney patients around the world were granted access to kidney dialysis treatment.

The theme for Tour DaVita is always 'The Spirit of the Ride'. We were asked to 'Create the Spirit of the Ride', 'Respect the Spirit of the Ride', and 'Remember the Spirit of the Ride'.

Tour DaVita 'The Reason Why We Ride' sign at the DaVita Woodburn Dialysis Clinic

There were a total of 506 Tour DaVita participants, including:

62 family members
8 Nephrologists
9 patient riders
366 teammates/vendor participants

Tour Davita is a fully supported endurance event for participants of all abilities and experience. Each year, DaVita partners with an active travel company, Backroads to make the 'The Moving Village' come to life.

Backroads provided bicycles fitted with rear bike racks and generously sized Topeak trunk. bags.

The sun setting over 'The Moving Village' at Centennial Park

Backroads also provided the tents, self-inflating sleeping pads, and sleeping bags.

While we were out riding on Day 2, the Backroads crew tore down the campsite and transported everything from Waterloo County Park in Lebanon to the campground at Centennial Park in Woodburn.

Upon arrival at the second campsite, our bags were waiting for us in our respective tents along with the sleeping bags and pads.

Potable water refill station

Each campsite had potable water filling stations and mobile shower trailer facilities.

Forks & Corks Catering catered the event. The majority of the food was sourced locally.

Amenities such as a Village Store, charging stations, and laptops were available provided at the campsites.

Tour DaVita Cell Phone Charging center

This year, I opted to bring an 8000 mAh battery pack so I could charge my mobile device from the convenience of my tent. The 8000 mAh charger provided enough power for all 3 days.

Tour DaVita - Day 1 was a 73 mile loop ride with a 1,076 foot elevation gain starting and ending at the first campground at Waterloo County Park in Lebanon.

The Green Girl and Aaron at the Tour DaVita - Day 1 start

Lexa and I took it easy to preserve ourselves for the century the next day.

Coming from the dry, brown, fire-prone state of California, I was looking forward to enjoying some rich Autumn colors but we were disappointed to learn that the drought had spread to Oregon.

There was even a fire about 40 miles away from our cycling route. I was relieved to see that the air quality wasn't as bad as I'd feared.

The weather was also pleasant - warm but not too hot or humid.

Pumpkin patch in Willamette Valley

We were able to catch a glimpse of fall colors mixed in with the brown here and there.

We also managed to get a taste of the upcoming holiday season as we rode by Christmas tree farms, hazelnut trees, and pumpkin patches. We also saw organic cattle.

The Green Girl saw a traveling sprinkler for the first time

I saw a traveling sprinker for the first time. It was a cute little yellow tractor slowly moving across a lawn. Teammate Aaron explained the tractor follows the path of the water hose.

The Backroads crew set up well-stocked aid stations along the route. They also drove around in 'Spirit Vans' offering support and picking up weary riders.

For lunch, I enjoyed a tasty grilled cheese sandwich with tomato soup.

Massages

Upon completion of the 73 miles, I pulled a number, showered, and then patiently waited my turn for a complimentary 15 minute massage.

I explained my lower back tightness to the masseuse and she explained that discomfort was actually caused by tight psoas muscles.

I focused on yoga breathing as she worked on loosening my psoas - the left side was much more painful than the right.

Tour DaVita - Day 2 was a century with a 2,400 foot elevation gain from Waterloo County Park in Lebanon to Centennial Park in Woodburn.

Christmas tree farm

Given my lower back situation - even though I was feeling significantly looser post-massage, I was relieved to see that the century course was mostly flat.

One of the highlights of the century route for me was going over historical covered bridges.

Oregon has a total of 50 historic covered bridges - more than any other U.S. state. The majority of the covered bridges in Oregon were built between 1905 and 1925.

The Green Girl and Lexa rode over their first covered bridge Photo Credit: Aaron Schmidt

The first covered bridge we crossed was the Hoffman Bridge over Crabtree Creek. The bridge was a mile northeast of the town of Crabtree. Both the town and the creek were named for John Crabtree, a pioneer who settled in the area in 1845.

The nearby fires created a smoke and ash blanket across the sky. The air quality remained tolerable and the thick cover actually shaded us from the potentially hot sun.

The Tour DaVita course was clearly marked with signs

Copies of the daily route maps were handed out at breakfast but the course was also clearly marked with signs.

Potential hazards were also marked with signs - including any significant traffic crossings.

At lunch, I opted to take some ibuprofen to help ease my lower back tension.

We cycled past multiple pumpkin patches before arriving at our new camp site at Centennial Park in Woodburn.

DaVita Woodburn Dialysis Clinic

Tour DaVita - Day 3 kicked off with a visit to the local DaVita Woodburn Dialysis Clinic.

Day 3 was an 83 mile route with a 1,900 foot elevation gain.

12 miles into the day, our route crossed the Wheatland Ferry.

The Wheatland Ferry is a cable ferry connecting Marion County and Yamhill County across the Willamette River. The ferry travels approximately 580 feet (178 meters) across the river.

Ferry

The ferry was powered by two electric motors connected to a diesel generator and supported by two steel cables, one under water on the downriver side, and one overhead on the upriver side. The overhead cable was also used for steering the ferry.

Each time a replacement Wheatland ferry is launched, it is always named Daniel Matheny, after the person who originally established the ferry, followed by its number as a Roman numeral. The current ferry, launched in 2002 is Daniel Matheny V.

Steve Priest discussing the backlog of riders with a Wheatland Ferry worker

Unfortunately, a ferry ride with a maximum passenger capacity of 45 due to life jacket availability 12 miles into a ride was less than ideal. Since all the riders attended the clinic visit, we all started the ride together - and 12 miles wasn't enough to spread us out so we all arrived at the ferry at around the same time.

The ferry also had to accommodate locals - so that meant less Tour riders on each ride.

The Green Girl and Lexa's first ferry ride. Photo Credit: Deb Marshall

Lexa and I ended up waiting 1.25 hours to board the ferry but that could not sully my first time riding a ferry with Lexa excitement.

After realizing how much time was lost in the ferry queue, I decided Lexa and I needed to pick up the pace in order to make the time cut-off for the full 83 miles.

Instead of going at my usual comfortable 14.4 mph, I pumped my legs are hard as I could and managed to do between 17.5 - 18.5 mph on the flats most of the way to lunch.

A field of beehives

When I was riding with teammate Kelly, we passed a field of pastel colored beehives.

I shared my interest with in beekeeping with Kelly and mentioned how I'd read that when a beekeeper dies someone must go tell the bees about his/her death or they will fly away and leave the hive.

There was a giant, seemingly never-ending hill right before lunch - and it was one of those hills where you think you've reached the top but it curves and keeps on going. I felt like we were doing the entire 1,900 foot elevation gain up this incline.

Cattle along the Tour DaVita route

About 10 feet from the top, my body decided it had had enough. I was about to throw in the towel when a girl behind me said 'Mary* you cannot stop! You've been the only thing keeping me going up this entire hill!'. That comment gave me a burst of energy and I manage to push out a few more pedal strokes.

Unbeknownst to me, Willamette Valley's mild climate provides optimal growing conditions for grapes and is home to over 300 wineries. Willamette Valley is also known for its world class Pinot noir.

Tour DaVita - Day 3 lunch was at the beautifulZenith Winery

I thoroughly enjoyed the Day 3 lunch at the beautiful Zenith Winery.

I had a tasty BBQ sandwich and yummy macaroni and cheese while I sat on the patio and enjoyed the view.

With my lunch, I took a serving of ENERGYbits spirulina algae tabs to help maintain my energy levels for the second half of the ride.

Sun setting over Willamette Valley

Once my lunch digested, I was able to maintain a steady 15.5 mph. I was thrilled when I got to the cut-off point and the Red Shirt volunteers let me know I could still complete the full distance.

Around Mile 65, Kelly caught up with me and rode to the finish together as the sun began to set over Willamette Valley.

Tour DaVita finisher's buckle

At dinner, each rider received a Tour DaVita Oregon 2014 finisher's belt buckle.

It was my first ever belt buckle - I was so excited.

The buckle was especially meaningful to me because I'd gone outside my comfort zone and pushed myself to make the time cut-off. Day 3 was much more challenging for me due to the lost time waiting for the ferry than the century.

DaVita Blues All Stars

After our final dinner, the DaVita Blue All Stars provided musical entertainment to help us celebrate a successful Tour.

I want to thank everyone who helped me raise money for the DaVita Village Trust.

I also want to thank my team - the eGate team - for their support and encouragement.

The Green Girl and Kelly at the Tour DaVita finish line

Here's a link to the official Tour DaVita 2014 Recap Video.

We ride so others can live...

* I have no idea who that teammate was - she only knew my name because it was on the bib attached to my hydration pack - but thank you Hill Angel Teammate who helped me get to the top of that giant, killer hill!

Run Woodstock Hippie Half Race Report

2014-09-10T10:22:00.001-07:00

The Green Girl and Angel Runners Dawn and Jason after the Run Woodstock Hippie Half

The Green Girl ran the Hippie Half and Flippin' 5k at Run Woodstock this past weekend.

Run Woodstock is a hippie-themed weekend of peace, love, music, tie-dye, camping, and running at Hell Creek Ranch in Pinckney, MI.

In addition to 5k/10k, 5 mile, full/half marathon, 50k/50 mile, and 100k/100 mile races, there were also optional activities such as hiking, hula hooping, tie dying, yoga, and even 'natural' (sans clothing) runs.

F.A.S.T. Island Angel Runners at Run Woodstock

I joined Angel Runners Boyana, Dawn, Jason, Krishna, and Timothy at this event to raise awareness and money for the Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics (FAST). Dawn and Jason's daughters, Bella and Kaylee, also joined us.

FAST provides grants and fellowship programs to encourage research aimed at finding a cure for Angelman Syndrome. The organization also provides education and advocacy services.

In honor of the Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics, the Angel Runners coined the term 'F.A.S.T. Island' in reference to our campgrounds.

Angel Runners F.A.S.T. Island at Run Woodstock

The Angel Runners started arriving at Hell Creek Ranch Friday afternoon. We pitched our tents and assembled F.A.S.T. Island for the weekend.

Shortly after I pitched my tent and set up my sleeping quarters, an air raid siren sounded. I quickly learned this was a tornado warning after I shocked everyone by explaining earthquakes 'just happen' in California - there is no advance warning.

A fallen tent at Hell Creek Ranch

Before I had a chance to panic at the possibility of a tornado, violent gusts of wind started ripping through the campground. Unweighted tents were violently ripped out of the ground and thrown up into the air - including the giant tent to the left of me.

I was still standing there in shock when a local fellow running blogger, Clark from Traveller's Running Log, arrived. After we determined F.A.S.T. Island was unharmed, he helped us reinforce the camp to guard against future wind storms.

The Green Girl and Clark from Traveller's Running Log in front of the still standing F.A.S.T. Island

The remainder of the day was uneventful but the Friday night Far Out 5k was cancelled due to the storm warnings.

It rained consistently through the night so we were prepared for mud when we headed out to the trails in the morning.

Boyana and Timothy's Freak 50k started at 6:00 am. Krishna's Mellow Full Marathon started at 7:30 am along with the Hippie Half Marathon which Dawn, Jason, and I were registered for.

Dawn and the Green Girl running at the Run Woodstock Hippie Half

Dawn, Jason, and I were pleasantly surprised by how much the earth had dried up by the time we headed out on a well-groomed, gravel covered dirt road.

The morning was pleasant but humid. The heavy foliage from the trees shaded us from the sun and helped keep us cool.

The Green Girl saw a deer stand for hunting for the first time

I saw a deer stand for hunting for the first time when Jason pointed one out on the course.

I also learned a new euphemism for poop - road apples. Except I kept getting confused and saying 'mud apples'.

The course was well marked with colored flags and directional signage.

Run Woodstock Aide Station Volunteer

The three of us were disappointed to discover the aide stations for the half marathon course only provided water and a lemon-lime sports drink.

Expecting more course support, the only nutrition I brought with me were EnergyBits spirulina algae supplements and a Smucker's Uncrustables from Boyana.

Halfway through the run, I decided to chew on my EnergyBits despite the instructions to swallow them whole. The taste reminded me of Japanese nori (seaweed) crackers. I quickly regretted this decision because I ended up with green residue on my lips which I managed to smear everywhere - especially my hydration bite piece.

Smucker's Uncrustable

I was absolutely amazed by the Uncrustable.

It was the solution to my quest for a sturdier portable peanut butter and jelly sandwich for long runs. The little crustless dumpling shaped pods come frozen in individually wrapped packages with just enough air to cushion the Uncrustable.

Muddy portion of the Run Woodstock Hippie Half

Once we left the main road, the course took us into the woods where we encountered the occasional mud pit. We would carefully squish along the edges and brace ourselves with each inevitable slip.

Presumably from the previous evening's windstorm, there were a number of what appeared to be freshly fallen trees on the trail.

Some sections had so many downed trees that we felt like mini hurdlers.

Angel Runners Dawn and Jason navigating the fallen trees at the Run Woodstock Hippie Half

There were a few rolling hills but the course wasn't highly technical.

The Hippie Half course crossed paths with the longer distance races so we had the opportunity to cheer on some of the Hallucination 100ers. (Unfortunately, we could not say the same for their aide stations.)

Dawn met an energetic 82 year old runner named Bob out on the course. We chatted with him briefly and then discussed how we hoped we would be in similar physical shape at that age.

Dawn and the Green Girl running in the woods at the Run Woodstock Hippie Half

My favorite portion of the course was the section through the tall trees. The dense forest shaded us from the hot sun.

Although my stomach growled and cramped with hunger, I was pleased to see the combination of the EnergyBits and the Uncrustable carried me to the finish.

After Dawn, Jason, and I completed our Hippie Half, we returned to F.A.S.T. Island and waited for Krishna to finish the Mellow Full.

Run Woodstock Mellow Full Age Grouper Krishna

We were thrilled to see Krishna received a mini Volkswagen Camper Van for placing third in his age group.

We cheered Boyana and Timothy upon their completion of the Freak 50k.

In the evening, Boyana and I headed out with our headlamps for the non-'natural' (fully clothed) Flippin' 5k.

Runners for both Flippin' 5k versions started out fully clothed (this was a family-friendly event, after all) but at some point out on the course, there was a split where the fully clothed runners veered in one direction and the 'natural' runners stripped and completed their race in the nude.

Run Woodstock Freak 50k finishers Boyana and Timothy

Boyana and I were running happily when an oncoming naked guy ran past us. Even though we were aware of the 'natural' run option on the other course, it still startled us to see a lost rogue 'natural' runner.

After completing my first ultramarathon at last year's Freak 50k, I enjoyed racing a shorter distance and having more time to participate in the Run Woodstock weekend activities.

The Green Girl at DTW on her way home from Run Woodstock

Run Woodstock was well-organized and the volunteer 'roadies' were friendly and helpful.

One thing that impressed me was the exceptional porta-potty maintenance. Some campers arrived on Thursday but even on Sunday, the porta-potties were well-stocked and not overflowing.

I want to thank Boyana, Dawn, Jason, Krishna, and Timothy for another unforgettable Run Woodstock weekend full of running, camping, and laughs. I am already looking forward to doing this again next year.

The Green Girl's Tour DaVita Packing List

2014-09-08T11:54:00.000-07:00

The Green Girl is updating The Green Girl's Tour DaVita Packing List in preparation for Tour DaVita next week.

The Green Girl's Tour DaVita Packing List

Clothing

Sea to Summit 13L Ultra-Sil Dry Sack
Playa-Cabana cycling jersey
IT cycling jersey
IT Operations cycling jersey
Pearl iZUMi Sugar Shorts
Pearl iZUMi Select Gel Gloves
Gloves (to slip over fingerless gel gloves on cold mornings)
Zensah Compression Sleeves
White long-sleeved thermal
White thermal leggings
Columbia Sweet Peak black moisture-wicking hoodie
North Face Venture Raincoat
Drymax Mini Crew Running Socks
Underwear
Champion Double Dry Shiny Seamless Sports Bras
Running shirt
Running shorts
Zensah Compression Calf Sleeves
Spenco PolySorb Total Support Sandal flip flops
Spare running shoes

Personal Items/Toiletries

BugBand mosquito repellent bracelets
Dickinson's Witch Hazel Daily Facial Towelettes
Giovanni Peppermint Surge Sanitizing Towelettes
Target up & up Sensitive Skin Baby Wipes

Huggies Natural Care Baby Wipes Clutch and Clean Carrying Case

Toothbrush/toothpaste
Plackers Dental Flossers
Shampoo/Conditioner
Dial Tropical Escape Antibacterial Deodorant Soap (cut into single use chunks)
Face wash
Antiperspirant/Deodorant
Feminine products
Travel comb/brush
Spare hair elastics
Spare Bondi Bands
Nail clipper
Q-tips Cotton Swabs Pack
Lip balm
Allergy medicine
Daily vitamins in individual zip bags
Ibuprofen
Travel toilet paper roll
Chamois Butt’r Single Use Packets
Sunscreen
KT Tape
Norwex Rescue Gel
Mesh bag (for shower)

Gear/Electronics

REI Venus 70 Pack
Green Schwinn Starlet Wave Helmet
Spare Continental GatorSkin 650c x 23 tires
Spare tubes
Serfas LT-2 Medium Speed Bag
Lezyne Road Drive tire pump
Multi-tool
Patch kit
Tire levers
Mini first aid kit
CatEye HL-EL135 headlight
Cygolite HotShot 2W USB tail light
Nathan Intensity Hydration Backpack
iFitness Neoprene Double Pouch Belt
Marmot Angel Fire sleeping bag
Therm-a-Rest Compressible pillow
Orange Mud Transition & Seat Wrap
Dirty Girl Gaiters
Road ID Ankle ID
The Little Stick
Mini flashlight lantern
TIKKA PLUS² headlamp
Spare AAA batteries for headlamp/lantern
Mr. Green Garmin
Mr. Orange Garmin
Waterproof electronic bags

Nutrition

Succeed S! Electrolyte Caps
ENERGYbits
FLEXR sports bottle
Spare FLEXR sports bottle liners
Ginger chews

Travel Outfit/Carry-on

T-shirt
Jeans
Belt
Patagonia Swell Belle zip jacket
New Balance 990v3
REI Chock small messenger bag
Mobile phone
Mobile phone charger
Camera
Spare camera battery
Battery pack
Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 7"
Amazon Kindle Fire HDX charger
Eagle Creek Inflatable Neck Pillow

Additional Notes/Tips:

Run Woodstock Hippie Half Marathon Packing List

2014-08-25T11:46:00.000-07:00

The Green Girl is updating her Run Woodstock Peace, Love & Freak 50K Packing List in preparation for this year's Running Fit's Run Woodstock.

Run Woodstock is a weekend of peace, love, music and running at Hell Creek Ranch in Pinckney, MI, with races of almost every imaginable distance - 5k/10k, 5 mile, full/half marathon, 50k/50 mile, 100k/100 miles.

The runners will be camping at the Hell Creek Ranch Commune.

The Green Girl's Run Woodstock Packing List

Clothing

Sea to Summit 13L Ultra-Sil Dry Sack
Sole Runners shirt
Team Superhero shirt
White long-sleeved thermal
Columbia Sweet Peak black moisture-wicking hoodie
North Face Venture Raincoat
Running shorts
Drymax Mini Crew Running Socks
Underwear
Champion Double Dry Shiny Seamless Sports Bras
Zensah Compression Calf Sleeves
Sole Runners running cap
Flip-flops
Spare running shoes

Gear

Personal Items/Toiletries

BugBand mosquito repellent bracelets
Dickinson's Witch Hazel Daily Facial Towelettes
Giovanni Peppermint Surge Sanitizing Towelettes
Toothbrush/toothpaste
Plackers Dental Flossers
Shampoo/Conditioner
Body wash
Face wash
Antiperspirant/Deodorant
Feminine products
Travel comb/brush
Spare hair elastics
Spare Bondi Bands
Nail clipper
Q-tips Cotton Swabs Pack
Lip balm
Allergy medicine
Daily vitamins in individual zip bags
Ibuprofen
Travel toilet paper roll
Eagle Creek Inflatable Neck Pillow
BodyGlide
Sunscreen
Sports tape
Instant ice packs
Norwex Rescue Gel
Target up & up Sensitive Skin Baby Wipes

Electronics

Mini flashlight lantern
Mobile phone
Mobile phone charger
Camera
Spare camera battery
TIKKA PLUS² headlamp
Spare AAA batteries for headlamp
Mr. Green Garmin
Battery pack
Waterproof electronic bags

Nutrition

Travel Outfit

Orange Mud Transition & Seat Wrap Winner

2014-08-07T00:47:00.000-07:00

The Green Girl is thrilled to announce the winner of the Orange Mud Transition & Seat Wrap Giveaway.

The winner is Tiina from One Crazy Penguin!

Thank you to all the participants and a big congratulations to Tiina!

Tiina, please send an email to giveaway@therunninggreengirl.com to claim your prize.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Please also consider taking a moment to vote for Orange Mud founder, Josh Sprague, for Entrepeneur Magazine's 'Emerging Entrepreneur of 2014'. In addition to offering locally sourced, innovative products with for endurance athletes, Orange Mud also supports and gives back to the athletic community.

If you'd like to save 10% off an Orange Mud purchase, simply use discount code 'RUNNINGGREEN14'. Code valid until 08/30/2014.

Orange Mud Transition & Seat Wrap Giveaway

2014-07-29T09:46:00.000-07:00

The Green Girl loves her lime green Orange Mud Transition & Seat Wrap.

After I posted my review last night, Orange Mud generously offered one Orange Mud Transition & Seat Wrap for a giveaway to a lucky winner.

Orange Mud designed the Transition & Seat Wrap to function as both a towel wrap and a seat protector.

The transition wrap feature consists of a sturdy clip that fastens easily and securely to a laser cut belt. I like how the belt band gives the towel a slight stiffness so it doesn't stretch as you secure it around your body.

The seat cover feature consists of a section of the towel that zips into a hoodie. This hooded portion can be pulled over the headrest of your car seat. It's long enough that it drapes over and protects the edge/side of your seat from potentially dirty calves/legs.

The Transition & Seat Wrap comes in 16 fun colors:

Neon Yellow
Royal Blue
Neon Pink
Hunter Green
Navy Blue
Sunshine Yellow
Caribbean Blue
Turquoise
White
Burgundy
Orange
Tan
Purple
Lime Green
Salsa Red
Black

To enter to win your very own Orange Mud Transition & Seat Wrap in your choice of color, simply log into the Rafflecopter widget below.

You will have two options for logging into the Rafflecopter widget:

Log in via Facebook - choose this option and a pop-up will ask for permission to access Facebook details. Rafflecopter needs to access email addresses via Facebook in order to contact winners.
Use your email - leave a name and email address. Your email address is PRIVATE and I will not share or publish it anywhere.

Giveaway ends Wednesday, August 6th at 12:00 midnight Pacific Time. If you encounter any issues entering this giveaway via Rafflecopter, please let me know.

Good luck and thank you
for taking the time to enter this giveaway!

Winner will be announced on Thursday, August 7th!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Orange Mud Transition & Seat Wrap Review

2014-07-28T22:03:00.000-07:00

The Green Girl purchased a lime green Orange Mud Transition & Seat Wrap a few months ago.

Orange Mud designed the Transition & Seat Wrap to function as both a towel wrap and a seat protector.

I discovered the versatility of a full-sized bath towel while participating in Ragnar Relay multi-day races.

A single towel could serve as a body wrap when changing clothing, a blanket for warmth, a seat protector, and even a pillow if folded/rolled.

I was looking at triathlon transition towels and spa towels wraps in search of a velcro-less solution (I dislike how velcro tends to catch on fabrics) when a fellow Ragnarian mentioned the Orange Mud Transition & Seat Wrap.

Orange Mud Transition & Seat Wrap

The Orange Mud Transition & Seat Wrap measures 30" wide x 60" long.

The product is made in the USA.

The care directions indicate wash cold and dry cool.

The transition wrap feature consists of an impact resistant polymer clip that fastens easily and securely to a laser cut belt.

Orange Mud Transition & Seat Wrap

I like how the band of the belt gives the towel a slight stiffness so it doesn't stretch as you secure it around your body. The belt appears to be well made and reinforced.

The seat cover feature consists of a section of the towel that zips into a hoodie. This hooded portion can be pulled over the headrest of your car seat. It's long enough that it drapes over and protects the edge/side of your seat from potentially dirty calves/legs.

Orange Mud Transition & Seat Wrap

The towel is the thickness and quality of a typical beach towel.

I ignored the care instructions and washed my lime green Transition & Seat Wrap in hot water and dried it in high. This did not appear to diminish the integrity of the towel but the towel did leave behind generous amounts of lime green fuzz.

I highly recommend washing your towel multiple times before use - and with items that do not attract lint. The towel did eventually stop shedding after a few washes - and the hot water/high heat hasn't had any negative effects on it even after a few months.

The Transition & Seat Wrap comes in 16 colors:

Neon Yellow
Royal Blue
Neon Pink
Hunter Green
Navy Blue
Sunshine Yellow
Caribbean Blue
Turquoise
White
Burgundy
Orange
Tan
Purple
Lime Green
Salsa Red
Black

Orange Mud Transition & Seat Wrap

I love my Orange Mud Transition & Seat Wrap - it's become my 'go to' towel. In addition to outdoor sports and the gym, it's also great for recreational swimming or the water park.

The product was thoughtfully designed and well made.

Los Angeles River Ride 70 Mile Playa to Park

2014-07-02T14:59:00.004-07:00

The Green Girl and Lexa did the 14th Annual Los Angeles River Ride 70 Mile Playa to Park on Sunday, June 22nd.

The annual LA River Ride is the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition's biggest event and fundraiser.

The proceeds from the ride benefited the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition (LACBC) and Moms in Motion.

The LACBC was founded in 1998 by bicycle advocates Joe Linton and Ron Milam with a mission to improve the bicycling environment and quality of life for the entire Los Angeles region.

The LACBC is part of LA River Corp's collaborative Greenway 2020 LA River revitalization campaign to complete a 51 mile greenway corridor by the year 2020 - a completely car-free uninterrupted bike highway running from Long Beach to Canoga Park complete with sustainable parks, gathering spaces, dining amenities, and potential green energy sources.

The Taiwan Tourism Bureau sponsored the LACBC Taiwan Cycling Festival Sweepstakes.

Everyone who signed up for a LACBC membership in the month of May was automatically entered in the LACBC Taiwan Cycling Festival Sweepstakes to win a trip for 2 to Taiwan to attend the Taiwan Cycling Festival at Sun Moon Lake.

The Green Girl and Lexa at the 14th Annual Los Angeles River Ride 70 Mile Playa to Park

The LA River Ride offered 7 different rides starting/ending at the Gene Autry Museum and added 3 ride options starting/ending at the Aquarium of the Pacific.

Gene Autry Museum 'Park to the Playa' Start/Finish

100 mile [southbound route / northbound route]
70 mile [southbound route / northbound route]
50 mile Half Century [route]
36 mile Training Ride [route]
25 mile Explorer Ride [route]
15 mile Family Ride [route]
2 mile Free Kids' Ride (until noon)

Aquarium of the Pacific 'Playa to the Park' Start/Finish

100 mile [northbound route / southbound route]
70 mile [northbound route] / southbound route]
25 mile [route]

The route was clearly marked with RouteArrows

Lexa and I started our 70 mile ride at the Aquarium of the Pacific with Sarah aka 'The Pink Girl', Sarah's bike Alice, Sole Runner Cyndi, Cyndi's bike Lil Lexa*, Cassie from Beach Cities Cycling Club, and Cassie's unnamed bike.

From the Aquarium, we followed the colored route arrows north onto the river bed.

The June Gloom started us off with a cool but humid morning.

The Pink Girl parking Alice next to Lexa

The LA River Bed is generally flat with short downhills and uphills beneath overpasses so the majority of the course was fast and flat.

The first rest stop at Mile 17 was sponsored by Bike San Gabriel Valley (BikeSGV) at Maywood Riverfront Park.

Bike San Gabriel Valley (BikeSGV) Rest Stop

Volunteers out on the bike path warned cyclists of the slowing/stopping and quickly ushered us into the park.

BikeSGV provided snacks and information about their organization.

There were porta-potties and a Palomar Mountain Premium Spring Water truck for us to refill our water bottles.

Palomar Mountain Premium Spring Water Refill Station

After a quick break, we continued north on the bike path.

Despite volunteers waving their arms and shouting, and the giant LA River Ride bird logo dangling from a lamp post, Sarah and I somehow managed to cycle past the river bed turn off point. Sarah even bumped the giant bird with her helmet.

Sarah posing in front of the LA River Ride bird she hit with her helmet

When we returned to the turn off, Cassie and Cyndi were there. They laughed when we told them how we missed the turn and Sarah almost took down the official bird.

From the turn off, we continued to follow the colored arrows through the streets of Los Angeles. The arrows took us back onto the river bed bike path near Elysian Park.

Cassie and Cyndi

The cloud cover had lifted by this point and the occasional tree offered only temporary shade from the hot sun.

The Gene Autry Museum with all the LA River Ride tents was a welcome sight.

I was looking forward to eating some real food and the Eco Expo did not disappoint.

Gene Autry Museum turnaround point food

A tent was serving Cajun Ahi Tacos, Banh Mi Pork Sandwich, and Fried Chicken Sliders for $6.

Cassie, Cyndi, Sarah, and I sat at a picnic table in the shade and enjoyed some lunch.

We were all happy to use a 'real bathroom' at the Gene Autry Museum. I washed my face and reapplied sunblock.

Taiwan Tourism Bureau tent

At the Eco Expo, I stopped by the brightly colored Taiwan Tourism Bureau tent before I headed to the LA River Ride merchandise tent.

I had been admiring the event jerseys so I picked one up for myself for $70.

After I stuffed the jersey into my hydration pack, we headed back out.

14th Annual Los Angeles River Ride 70 Jersey

The afternoon sun was hot and even though I'd just reapplied sun protection, I could feel myself burning.

Since it was later in the day, the traffic was also heavier on the city streets - especially in Chinatown.

Once we were back on the river bed, we encountered the expected headwinds but we didn't anticipate how hot the air would be. There would be an occasional gust of hot air as if someone was directing a heater at us.

Pulling over to visit The Frog Spot

Sarah and I stopped off at the The Frog Spot, a bike-friendly convenience store on the side of the river bed.

The Frog Spot generously offered cyclists complimentary ice water. Sarah refilled her bottle while I devoured a fruit popsicle.

The Frog Spot

The rest of the ride home was windy and hot.

The fellow LA River Ride cyclists were friendly and considerate.

Whenever someone was pulled over with a flat, there were several other riders assisting. Several times other riders warned us several times of upcoming hazards - even a questionable transient standing on the path.

14th Annual Los Angeles River Ride Jersey and Medal

At the Finish, we received a medal that doubles as a bottle opener.

The LA River Ride Official Event Photos were generously sponsored by the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition and complimentary to all riders.

I want to thank the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition for a fun ride for a great cause.

Lexa and I are looking forward to future Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition events.

^*Lil Lexa is actually bigger than Lexa

Beach Cities Cycling Club Safe Cycling Course

2014-06-28T18:00:00.000-07:00

Beach Cities Cycling Club Safe Cycling Course flyer

The Green Girl and Lexa attended a Beach Cities Cycling Club Safe Cycling Course in March.

The course is offered throughout the year to all Beach Cities Cycling Club members at no additional charge. (An annual Beach Cities Cycling Club membership costs $25.)

The Safe Cycling Course was held at Beach Cities Health District and consisted of 3 Sunday sessions from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm.

League of American Bicyclists Smart Cycling Traffic Skills 101 manual

The sessions were a combination of lecture, demonstrations, and hands-on exercises led by Beach Cities Cycling Club founder Jim Hannon and other Beach Cities Cycling Club members.

The course materials consisted of the League of American Bicyclists Smart Cycling Traffic Skills 101 manual, videos, and supplemental printed hand-outs.

Dave Strelka started off Day One with an overview of the course. Then, Ride Co-Director Bob Young went over the parts of a bike using a clever bicycle typogram by artist Aaron Kuehn.

Typogram Credit: Aaron Kuehn

Beach Cities Cycling Club Founder Jim Hannon

Jim Hannon presented a graphical depiction of cyclist versus motorist fault in accidents involving bicycles and vehicles. The pie chart indicated each party was responsible roughly 50% of the time.

This made an impression on me because it made me realize by making an effort to be a safe and predictable cyclist, I can significantly decrease my chances of getting into an accident with an automobile.

4 Ways to Turn Left

Hawk Granville went over the different types of bike lanes and considerations when riding each bikeway.

Danny Hylands covered maneuvering intersections. We learned there are 4 options for making a left turn.

4 Ways to Turn Left

Standard Turn Get in the left turn lane like a vehicle and follow traffic making the left through the intersection
Box Turn Continue straight across the intersecting road, then stop if safe, and turn bike to cross the street
U-Turn Make the easier right turn and then make a u-turn when safe
Pedestrian Turn Dismount and walk in the crosswalks of the two intersecting roads

ABC Quick Check

Peter Richardson kicked off Day Two with the 'ABC Check'.

ABC Quick Check

A is for air
B is for brakes
C is for cranks and chain
Quick is for quick releases

Basic Bike Tools for the Road

Craig Barton covered the 'Basic Bike Tools for the Road' and demonstrated how all of the essentials fit in his saddle bag.

Chuck Morton showed us how to properly change a tube and tire.

He suggested we line up the rim logo, tire logo, and valve for consistency and to make it easier to isolate a potential tear.

How to change a flat tire

After the demonstration, we broke up into groups and practised changing tires and tubes.

Once we were all comfortable changing tires and tubes, we moved outside for our first lessons on the bike.

Beach Cities Health District parking lot

The Beach Cities Health District parking lot featured a painted course designed for the bicycle drills.

The remainder of Day Two and all of Day Three - with the exception of our final ride on the streets - took place in the parking lot.

Danny Hylands started us off with the exercises. Another Beach Cities Cycling member, Stacey Timberlake, also helped demonstrate and lead.

Tennis Ball 'Hazards' Agility Test

For each maneuver, the instructor would explain when to use the move and why it was important. Then, one of them would repeat the demonstration until we felt comfortable enough to line up on our bikes and try it for ourselves.

I appreciated how patient and helpful all the instructors were with all of the students - regardless of experience and ability level.

Things We Learned

How to ride in a straight line
How to make an immediate sharp turn by jerking the front wheel quickly in the opposite direction and then turning
How to make a close turn
How to do turn signals
How to brake in the event of an emergency without flipping over your handlebars
How to look back without swerving
How to avoid hazards on the road

After going through all the exercises and getting feedback and advice from the different instructors, I felt much more confident about my cycling abilities.

One of the instructors helped me practice moving my center of gravity back for the emergency braking by holding Lexa steady while I applied both brakes, quickly lifted myself off the seat, and moved my body over Lexa's rear tire.

Heading out for a ride on the streets

On Day Three, armed with our newfound knowledge, we were broken up into groups led by the instructors for a ride on the streets.

I was assigned to Peter's group.

Before we headed out, he went over the route in great detail. Once we started riding, he would stop us before each intersection so we could go over what skills from class we could apply to each situation.

Peter drawing a diagram of an upcoming intersection

Lexa and I are much more confident when we are out on the road now that we've attended the Beach Cities Cycling Club Safe Cycling Course. I highly recommend this course to any cyclist who is interested in cycling safety.

And I'm happy to report that my biggest fear - flipping over my handlebars - was assuaged by this class.

Palm Springs Hamfest 2014

2014-04-28T19:31:00.000-07:00

The Green Girl attended Palm Springs Hamfest 2014 sponsored by the Desert RATS Ham Radio Club at the Palm Springs Pavilion back in March.

'Ham' is a term used to refer to amateur radio operators who are licensed by the FCC to use portions of the radio spectrum.

Palm Springs Hamfest
Desert RATS 2nd Hand Shop

I got my Amateur Ham Radio License last January after passing a 35 question exam covering basic radio technology and operating principles. My call sign is KK6BWC.

The $5 entry fee to Palm Springs Hamfest 2014 included access to the vendors in the Pavilion, the Swap Meet, the informational seminars, and an entry into a Grand Prize raffle to win a Alinco DX-SR9T 1.9~29MHz SSB/CW/AM/FM/SDR All-mode Desktop Transceiver.

Palm Springs Hamfest ticket

Additional raffle tickets could be purchased for awesome general prizes like an ICOM IC-718 HF All Band Transceiver, a Yaesu FT-60R 144/430 MHz 5-Watt FM Hand-held, a Puxing PX-UV973 Professional FM transceiver, MFJ MFJ-1728B magnet mounts, or Mystery Gifts, to name a few.

Palm Springs Hamfest raffle prizes

They thoughtfully displayed the winning numbers on the wall so raffle hopefuls didn't have to worry about missing their number.

The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) had a booth near the Palm Springs Hamfest entrance. The ARRL is the national association for Amateur Radio in the US.

Palm Springs Hamfest

I walked around and looked at the vendor booths. I saw amplifiers, cables, antennas, antenna tuners, connectors, DSP audio filters, power supplies, and other radio supplies for sale.

I felt a wave of nostalgia as I visited the Ham Radio Outlet booth - I'd purchased my beloved Yaesu FT-60R from their retail store last year. I discovered Hamfest was celebrating the 10th birthday of the FT-60R.

Radio antennas

I stopped by the Hospital Disaster Support Communications System (HDSCS) booth and met April Moell WA6OPS .

I learned HDSCS is a specialized unit of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) consisting of about 80 Ham Radio operators who have volunteered to provide backup internal and external communications for critical medical facilities in Orange County whenever normal communications are interrupted for any reason. The organization celebrated its 30th year of service in 2010.

National Disaster Medical System Member - Hospital Disaster Support Communications System (HDSCS) Major Activations

The HDSCS members are FCC licensed Amateur Radio operators who have their own portable radio equipment ready to respond to hospitals in Orange County.

April explained the distinction between Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) varies based on geological location.

Hospital Disaster Support Communications System (HDSCS) Major Activations

In some places, ARES and RACES are combined, with members wearing RACES hats during emergency activations and ARES hats for non-emergency public service communications. In other places they are separate organizations, with RACES responding to government agencies and ARES helping non-government entities.

When All Else Fails...Amateur Radio

HDSCS members responded to disasters like the Whittier Narrows earthquake, the Northridge earthquake, and the Placentia train derailment.

I also learned in the event of a widespread disaster in Northern or Southern California that paralyzes hospitals, critical care patients would be transported via airlift from Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base to a functioning medical facility.

April Moell WA6OPS 'Making Your List and Checking It Twice' seminar

April showed me an HDSCS binder which contained all the information a member would need to respond to an emergency including contact information, maps with multiple routes to nearby hospitals, and detailed information to connect to the hospital antenna.

I also attended April's 'Making Your List and Checking It Twice - A check list to help your group provide Amateur Radio support for local hospitals (or any other disaster preparedness)' afternoon seminar.

Homing In's 'Find the Hidden Transmitter'

Homing In sponsored a 'Find the Hidden Transmitter' game. I set my FT-60R frequency to 147.540 and heard a bunch of noise but had no idea how to find the hidden transmitter.

After my failed game attempt, I met a ham who was a SKYWARN spotter for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s National Weather Service (NWS).

The Green Girl trying to 'Find the Hidden Transmitter' with a Yaesu FT-60R

I learned SKYWARN is a volunteer program with nearly 290,000 trained severe weather volunteer spotters who help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather.

SKYWARN uses amateur radio as one method of communicating with spotter groups and emergency management organizations.

After talking to the SKYWARN ham, I was inspired to pick up a second copy of the beautiful NOAA NASA Sky Watcher Chart.

NOAA NASA Sky Watcher Chart

Old military radio

I saw another ham carrying around an old olive drab military radio. A few other hams stopped to admire it while I was snapping a picture.

I went outside to the RV camping area and admired the antennas mounted on the RVs and the personalized call sign license plates.

I stopped by the Riverside Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) truck and discussed emergency disaster preparedness with the CERT members.

The Badge Works booth

Before I left, I stopped by the Badge Works booth to order a call sign badge for myself as keepsake.

I thoroughly enjoyed Palm Springs Hamfest 2014 and I'm looking forward to future ham events and fests.

The Green Girl's call sign KK6BWC

73,
The Green Girl KK6WBC